Mayo in La Crosse now offering its patients 'laughing gas' during child birth

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) - Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse is now offering another option for pain relief for women during child birth.

Doctors are introducing nitrous oxide, more casually known as laughing gas.

Patients will be able to control the amount of gas inhaled through a hand held face mask, easing their pain during labor.

Doctors say the gas gives women an alternative to Epidurals.

"The good news about nitrous oxide is that it acts very quickly in the system so the mom takes a breath with the mask during a contraction and should feel the affects very quickly-within a matter of seconds. The good news is that it wears off very quickly as well," said Jennifer Myers.

Gundersen Health System began offering nitrous oxide to its patients in June of 2015.

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